In this episode of The Functional Edge, Dr. Julia Ward interviews Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAP—Medical Director and Co-founder of Shamynds Healing Center in Sacramento—to explore the science and promise of ketamine therapy for mental health.
Dr. Ahmad explains how low-dose ketamine works as a rapid antidepressant and neuroplasticity enhancer, calming overactive brain circuits linked to trauma. She discusses why ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is essential for lasting transformation and shares insights about how psychedelic medicine can help patients move beyond medication-resistant depression, anxiety, and chronic stress.
You’ll also hear practical advice on choosing safe treatment settings, preparing for sessions, and understanding why these therapies are redefining mental health care.
On this episode of The Functional Edge, Dr. Alya Ahmad, Medical Director of Shamynds Healing Center, shares why ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is revolutionizing mental health treatment. We explore how ketamine calms the brain’s default mode network, promotes neuroplasticity, and helps patients process trauma. Dr. Ahmad explains the difference between clinical and recreational use, and how safe, intentional therapy can bring hope to those with chronic depression and anxiety.
Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified physician, Medical Director, and Co-founder of Shamynds Healing Center in Sacramento. She specializes in integrative and psychedelic medicine, blending her background in pediatrics and psychiatry with a passion for trauma healing, narrative medicine, and consciousness research. Dr. Ahmad is dedicated to expanding access to evidence-based psychedelic therapies in safe, compassionate settings.
-----
Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAP
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1U1Sjym2kWEkYx2YAaQVfm
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs
Website: https://shamynds.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ar/podcast/too-curious-mds/id1795735549?l=en-GB
-----
Connect with me:
Check out my website: https://drjuliaward.com/
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjuliaward/?hl=en
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-ward-md-55b7672a/
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balancedbodyfunctionalmed/
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPz2YJi8Lw43i6XwNQiS6wg
-----
PODCAST
Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.
This podcast is produced by DrTalks.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.